Tips For Growing An Indoor Herb Garden

In the summertime it is great to have a garden to gather ingredients from, especially when taking online cooking classes. Veggies and herbs do wonderfully outside and make excellent fresh additions to your dish. Why not try growing herbs inside during the colder months? They’re beautiful and add a delicious aroma to your home and cooking. Try these tips to growing your own indoor herb garden.

Choose your herbs
Rosemary, sage, oregano, basil and thyme all do really well indoors. Choose your favorites based on what flavors you enjoy and use the most. You can even grow several varieties in the same pot.

Plant
If you have plants already growing outside, take some clippings. Snip a four-inch piece and strip the leaves from the last inch or two. Stick the stripped end into soil and give it a little water. If you don’t have access to clippings, follow the instructions on the back of the seed package.

Sunlight
Placing your indoor herb garden in a window that faces south is the best. There it will get the most sunlight. East and west views also will provide your plants with enough light to survive.

Temperature
Make sure your herbs are not directly in the path of a heat vent. This will cause them to dry out. It is also important to make sure they are not in temperatures colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit as most herbs cannot handle the cold. Basil is especially finicky and should be kept in a warm window.

Water
You will quickly learn that there are a lot of factors that affect how much water your plant needs. If it is in a plastic pot, it will need less water than plants that are in clay pots. If the pot receives direct sunlight, your herbs will need more water than those that are in partial sun. Most herbs like to have moist soil but not get their feet wet. This means that their roots cannot be constantly wet and should be allowed to dry out a bit. Excess water will cause your plant to turn yellow and emit a foul odor, This smell comes from the roots and dirt, which may be molding or rotting. A good rule of thumb is to feel the dirt with your finger before watering it. If it feels dry to the touch and crumbles off your finger, you can water it. If not, check back in a few days. Using a pot that has a drainage hole and a tray will allow your plant to properly dry out. You can also add some sand or gravel to your potting mix to make sure your plant has proper drainage.

Sprinkle your freshly grown herbs onto any dish and enjoy.